Third, member states must re-define what is and what is not permissible peaceful nuclear use, in particular the critical phases of nuclear fuel cycle -- uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing -- that could contribute to development of nuclear weapons. In addition, the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) ability to conduct inspections and enforce compliance must be strengthened.
Fourth, efforts must also be made to safeguard the security of nuclear facilities and materials to prevent acquisition and attacks by terrorist groups. UN Security Council Resolution 1540, which calls on member states to enforce national export controls to prevent terrorist access to items and technologies relevant to the development of weapons of mass destruction, needs to be fully implemented.
Finally, the international community must address the issues of poverty and inequality, and inter-state disputes and rivalry, which are the sources of conflicts and armament, including the pursuit of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. Confidence-building, peace and development can go a long way toward eliminating some of these woes.
On a day of memory and prayers, the best way to ensure that the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will not be forgotten and are never allowed to happen again is to make every effort to prevent the future use of nuclear weapons, strengthen international nonproliferation efforts and strive for the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons.
Yuan Jing-dong is research director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies and an associate professor of international policy studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.
RSS